The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations. 227
GAELIC INCANTATIONS, CHARMS, AND
BLESSINGS OF THE HEBRIDES.
I
By WILLIAM MACKENZIE
WILL now pass from Incantations taken by themselves
to^the'class of Charms where the aid of Amulets was
called in, and commence with the
AIRNE MOIKE, OR VIRGIN MARY NUT.
,
This nut has been for centuries prized in the Hebrides as
an amulet of great value. Martin, in his " Western
Islands," mentions several of the virtues it was believed to
possess. He calls it a " Molluka Bean." Pennant also
refers to it as a native of Jamaica, carried by the rivers
to the ocean, and thereafter by winds and the Gulf
Stream to the Outer Hebrides.
The name " Airne Moire" has been variously translated
" Kidney of Mary," and " Virgin Mary Nut." No doubt,
the word airne generally means " kidney" now ; but in old
Gaelic we have ainieag, " the sloe." The word also occurs
in old Irish, and Mr Whitley Stokes translates ami cumrae,
in the life of St Bridget, in the Book of Lismore, as " sweet
sloes."^
These nuts are of various colours, but the one most
prized has the cross indented on its sides. I have in my
possession one mounted with a silver cross. It was duly
blessed by a cleric
—
Pears Eaglais—and was believed to be
possessed of great virtues. It used to be worn about the neck,
just as the scapular is worn at the present time ; and every
one who thus carried it was believed to be under the special
protection of the Virgin Mary. She guarded him from
^ Batir imda ubla 7 ami cumrae isin cill hisin. ( Aliundant npples and sweet
«loes were in the church).